Illinois Water Resources Center

facilitating water research and education
for the state of Illinois

IWRC is one of 54 programs funded by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the
Water Resources Research Act of 1964 to promote and support the restoration,
conservation, and best management of water resources in the United States and
U.S. territories.

Our Mission

The IWRC is a federal–state partnership whose aim is to:

    • plan, facilitate, and conduct research that helps resolve and foresee Illinois and regional water problems
    • promote the development and transfer of water technologies
    • promote the dissemination and application of research
    • train scientists through participation in research
    • award competitive grants under the Water Resources Research Act

We conduct and facilitate novel and interdisciplinary water sciences research that benefits the people, economy, and environment of Illinois, the Mississippi River basin, and the Great Lakes region. The IWRC is dedicated to promoting transformative research and technological advances in water sciences by using team-based strategies to tackle grand societal challenges through collaboration on national and international scales.

Since 2020, the IWRC has:

provided 31 research grants (averaging $59,767)

generated 18 peer-reviewed publications

generated 3 theses or dissertations

provided support to 53 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students

Top science priority areas funded by the IWRC (by number of research project since 2020):

⸺ 11 ⸺

Water Quality

⸺ 6 ⸺

Watershed and Ecosystem

⸺ 6 ⸺

Water Technology and Innovation

⸺ 4 ⸺

Water Scarcity and Availability

“They enlist the intellectual power of universities and research institutes in a nationwide effort… Their ready accessibility to State and local officials.. permit each problem to be attacked on an individual basis, the only way in which the complex characteristics of each water deficiency can be resolved.”

– Statement by the President Lyndon Johnson upon signing the Water Resources Research Act, July 17, 1964

Great Lakes Climate Resilience Webinar June 18
This webinar, Realizing Resilience: Coordinating efforts from across the Great Lakes basin, is the first of a three-part series from the Great Lakes Commission (GLC): Realizing Resilience: Coordinating efforts from across the Great Lakes basin. The webinar series is offered in advance of the Midwest Climate Resilience Conference, scheduled for October 20-22 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Staff from the University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership (MCAP) will preview the upcoming Midwest Climate Resilience Conference, and the Great Lakes Commission will provide an overview of GLC’s Action Plan for a Resilient Great Lakes Basin. This Action Plan helps to prioritize basin-wide efforts and forms a roadmap to advance climate resilience in the region.
Great Lakes Themed Midwest Climate Resilience Conference in October 2025
The Great Lakes Commission's (GLC) Standing Committee on Climate Resilience is thrilled to partner with the Midwest Climate Resilience Conference (MCRC) to offer a Great Lakes theme for this 3-day convening, scheduled for October 20-22 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The GLC is coordinating a Great Lakes conference sub-track that will highlight basin-wide resilience efforts for all conference attendees, and will host a working session for Great Lakes resilience practitioners.
Summer Symposium August 5-7
Join the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center this summer to meet adaptation scientists and practitioners, learn about innovative research, and discuss regionally important issues related to climate adaptation.
IWRC is supported by various institutions. To find out more, click the button below.
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About IWRC
Current Research
Student Resources
Algal Bloom Action Team

CONNECT

Natural Resources Building
615 E. Peabody Dr
Champaign, IL 61820

iwrc@illinois.edu
(217) 300-2101

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